Dispensing device.



W. B. WILLS.

DISPENSING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.25.1915.

Patented May 9, 1916.

1; PATENT @FFTQE.

WALTER IB. WILLS, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

DISPENSING DEVICE.

Application filed August 25, 1915.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, l/VALTER B. WnlLs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore city, State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements 1n Dispensing Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for dispensing sugar, the same beingdes gned more particularly for use in public dining and lunch rooms, and constructed to discharge a measured quantity of sugar, thereby preventing waste.

The invention has for its object to provide 5 the apparatus with a novel and improved device for breaking up lumps in the sugar, thus assuring a free and unobstructed fiow, and, furthermore, to provide an agitator for this purpose which is automatic 1n operation, the same being actuated by the valve which controls the discharge of sugar from the apparatus.

WVith the objects stated in view, the invention consists in a combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is an elevation of the apparatus; Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the valve mechanism taken on the line 22 of Fig. 4; Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-section on the line 4- 1 of Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the valve, the casing being shown in section.

Referring specifically to the drawing, 10 denotes a suitable base, from one end of which rises a standard 11 having a forward bend at the top terminating in a platelike enlargement 12 to which is secured the valve casing 13 of a dispensing device. The valve casing is cylindrical, and has a threaded top portion 14 whereby connection is made with a receptacle 15 which contains the sugar or other material .to be dispensed.

. It may be here stated that the apparatus is Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 9, 1916.

Serial No. 47,311.

In the casing 13 is located a rotary valve for controlling the discharge of material from the receptacle 15. This valve is a cylindrical plug 20 having diametrically opposite pockets 21 by which the material is discharged in measured quantities. The casing also contains a seat for the valve, said seat being a plug 22 having a bottom recess 23 which is shaped to accommodate the valve. The recess opens through the top of the plug, the latter being formed with a depression 24. The plug forms a hopper in which the valve works. When the valve is turned to bring one of the pockets 21 to the top, said pocket is at the center of the depression 2a and uncovered, so that the material may enter the pocket. Upon turning the valve to invert the filled pocket, the material is dumped out of the latter into a spout 25 at the lower end of the valve casing 13, and discharged by the spout into the cup or other part held under the same. At the same time, the other pocket is carried to the top to filling position. The valve 20 is mounted on a rock shaft 26 passing lengthwise through the center thereof, and projecting at its ends from the casing 13, the projecting ends of the shaft being fitted withknobs 27 to facilitate turning of the shaft.

As certain grades of sugar are very liable to become caked or lumped, an agitator has been provided for breaking up the lumps, so that the apparatus will not become clogged. This agitator comprises a straight shank 28 seating at its upper end in a central aperture 29 in the cap 18 and its bottom lug 19. The bottom of the lug has a cross slot 30 in which seats a lateral bend 31 made in the shank, whereby the latter is held against rotation relative to the cap. The lower end of the shank is bent into a double loop 32 in the form of the figure 8, and the bottom portion of the loop has two opposite lateral and upturned fingers 33. The length of the shank 28 is such that the lower portion of the 1003 32 and the fingers 33 extend into the poo ets 21 as they come to filling position, one after the other, and when the valve plug 20 is turned to invert the pocket to discharge its contents, the side wall of the pocket strikes the bottom portion of the loop on one side, and forces the same upward, the cap 18 rising with the shank 28. As the next pocket arrives at the top, the shank drops and the looped lower end enters said pocket. The shank drops down by gravity, assisted by the'weight of the cap 18, the latter reciprocating with the shank. The lug 19 slides up and down in the aperture l7 and thus serves to guide the shank. The loop 32 and upturned fingers 33 provide a somewhat hemispherical lower end for the agitator and which will readily engage and be lifted by the edges of the pockets 21 in whatever position the agitator assumes after it has been rotated. In other words, when the agitator is rotated, the operator can leave it in any position without danger of leave it in an inoperative reciprocating position.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the agitator is reoiprocated as the valve 20 is rotated, and the sugar is kept stirred up to break up all lumps. The looped portion of the shank 28 works in the depression at and thus insures the agitation of the sugar before it is discharged into the valve pockets. The agitator can'also be rotated to stir up the sugar, by taking hold of the cap 18 and turning the same, the shank 28 turning with the cap by reason of the bend 31 seat ing in the slot 80.

The preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown, but it will be understood that various changes and modifications in the structure may be made without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

I claim:

1. The combination of a material container, a rotary valve for discharging the contents of the container, said valve having pockets to receive the material and said pockets being successively brought into receiving position by the rotation of the valve, and a reciprocatory agitator having its lower end widened and rounded and loosely seated in the container and with its lower end extending into the valve pockets when the latter are in receiving position, the agitator being forced out of the pockets upon rotating the valve to carry the pockets to discharge position.

2. The combination of a material container, a rotary valve for discharging the contents of the container, said valve having pockets to receive the material and said pockets bein successively brought into re ceiving position by rotation of the valve, a reciprocatory and rotatable agitator in the container and provided with a wide looped lower end which extends into the valve pockets when the latter are in receiving position, the agitator beingforced out of the pockets upon rotating the valve to carry the pockets to discharge position, and means for rotating the agitator.

3. The combination of a material container having a top aperture and a bottom outlet, a rotatable valve beneath the outlet and having pockets to receive the material, said pockets being successively brought into receiving position by rotation of the valve, a cap over the aforesaid aperture and having a lug seating loosely therein, and a reciprocatory agitator connected to the cap and extending through the container to enter the valve pockets when the latter are in receiving position, the agitator being forced up out of the pockets upon rotating the valve to carry the pockets to discharge position.

at. The combination of a material container having a. top aperture and a bottom outlet, a rotatable valve beneath the outlet and having pockets to receive the material, said pockets being successively brought into receiving position by rotation of the valve, a cap over the aforesaid aperture and having a lug seating rotatably and slidably therein, and a reciprocatory agitator connected to the cap and extending through the container to enter the valve pockets when the latter are in receiving position, the agitator being forced up out of the pockets upon rotating the valve to carry the pockets to discharge position.

The combination of a material container, a rotary valve for discharging the contents of the container, said valve having pockets to receive the material, and said pockets being successively brought into receiving position by the rotation of the valve, and a reciprocatory agitator in the container, said agitator extending into the pockets when in receiving position, and being formed with curved projections at its lower end to rise out of the pockets when engaged by the wall thereof upon rotating the valve to carry the pockets to discharge position. r

6. The combination of a material container, a rotary valve for discharging the contents of the container, said valve having pockets to receive the material, and said pockets being successively brought into receiving position by the rotation of the valve, a reciprocatory and rotatable agitator in the container, said agitator extending into the pockets when in receiving position, and being shaped to rise out of the pockets when engaged by the wall thereof upon rotating the valve to carry the pockets to discharge position, and means for rotating the agitator.

7. The combination of a material container, a rotary valve for discharging the contents of the container, said valve having pockets to receive the material, and said pockets being successively brought into receiving position by the rotation of the valve, and a reciprocatory agitator in the container, said agitator comprising a shank having a wide looped end extending intothe pockets when in receiving position, and

being adapted to be forced out of the same upon rotating the valve to carry the pockets to discharge position.

8. The combination of a material container, a rotary valve for discharging the contents of the container, said valve having pockets to receive the material, and said pockets being successively brought into re ceiving position by the rotation of the valve, a reciprocatory and rotatable agitator in the container, said agitator comprising a shank having a looped end extending into WALTER B. WILLS.

Witnesses:

E. WALTEN BREWINGTON, HOWARD D. ADAMS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G. 

